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Source Codes Reveal Collaboration Between Google and Samsung on Nexus Tablet

By Sidney Wong - on 15 May 2012, 9:55am

Source Codes Reveal Collaboration Between Google and Samsung on Nexus Tablet

Source: Android.com

New information gathered from Google' source codes points to Samsung as the manufacturer for the first Nexus-branded tablet.

According to Slash Gear, tipster Rawat was exploring the source codes when he stumbled upon the information. Kernel codes indicate that the Nexus tablet will be powered by Samsung's Exynos 5250 dual-core A15 processor and the Mali-T604 GPU. It is also alleged to come with a Super AMOLED display that has a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels and a 5-megapixel BSI rear camera.

“From poking around the kernel commits, the device they’re working on together features an Exynos 5250 (Dual core A15), with Mali T-604 graphics clocked at up to 533mhz (codename: vithar). For reference, the Mali 400 found in Galaxy S II / Exynos 4210 is clocked at upto 266mhz. SGS III and Exynos 4412 feature a Mali 400 clocked higher, and _that_ GPU comes top of the smartphone benchmarks besting even the iPhone 4S, so this should be much better.” – Rawat

Google chairman Eric Schmidt confirmed in December last year that the company is planning "to market a tablet of the highest quality" within the next six months. Since then, rumors were circulating that ASUS has been assigned to build the first Nexus tablet, which will be powered by NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core processor, Android 4.0 and priced at US$199. 

Earlier last month, BGR reported that sources close to the tablet project claimed that Google pushed back the planned release, originally set in May, to July so that it could make some design changes and lower the costs to compete with Amazon's Kindle Fire. The Verge also reported that the delay could be due to Google's decision to install the next version of Android, Jelly Beans, on the Nexus tablet. 

Both ASUS and Samsung have very close relationships with Google. ASUS is the first vendor to bring an Android 4.0 tablet to the mass market with its Transformer Pad Prime and has always delivered timely software updates for its tablets. Samsung has been chosen to manufacture the Nexus S and Galaxy Nexus, which are the second and third generation Nexus-branded smartphones. 

It's anybody's guess as to which Android vendor will be selected to build the first Nexus tablet. We will only know at Google's annual I/O conference on 27th June where it is expected to unveil the tablet.

Source: Slash Gear, @Codeworkx 

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